Tube flaring machine



Filed Sept. 13, 1937 v '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 grvowwbolm [0m 5. POOLE A N D OMRLEsAMc/mzs Oct. 17, 1939. L. E. POOLE El AL TUBE FLARING MACHINE Filed Sept. 13, 1937 '7 Shee-ts-Sheet 5 s x m m .rm M m A m Sa EA m mm mm 1, m9 m mm 3 m #2 Wm mm g a a mm mm Q 53 l.| km .w mm mm a NW N 5 llilrl w llllli, m MT w m .H omfi mww Oct. 17, 1939. L. E. POOLE Fr 4, 2,176,188

TUBE FLARING MACHINE Filed Sept. 13, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 rrrT' rm 8,3 5

102A 5. Fame AND CHARLES A. NICHOLS Oct. 17, 1939; 1.. E. POOL; Er AL 2,176,188

TUBE FLAR ING MACHINE Filed Sept; 13, 1937 Q w 4 2 m/ 5 I ,/////fl// E \MAM X I... W1 vmw M O mam/tau ZORA If. P0045 AND GHARLEs A/V/c/ms I wam L. E. POOLE El AL TUBE FLARING MACHINE 7 Shets-Sheet 1 Fil'ed Sept. 13, 1957 Figs. 2 and 5.

Patented Oct. 17, 1939 TUBE FLARING MACHINE Lora E. Poole and CharlesA. Nichols, Anderson, Ind., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application September 13, 1937, Serial No. 163,532

13 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of tubing such as used in gasoline and oil lines of an automotive vehicle.

It is an object of the invention to provide apv paratus for economically and efficiently flaring the ends of tubing so as to adapt them for suitable' tube fittings and coupling devices, for example those specified by S. A. E. standards.

These and other objects of the invention are accomplished in the disclosed embodiment thereof which comprises a conveyor carrying a plurality of workholders each for receiving a length of tubing, a plurality of stationary workholders each for clamping a length of tubing adjacent its end to be flared, a plurality of tools for performing operations upon a plurality of lengths of tubing simultaneously, and an operating mechanism for causing the stationary workholders to clamp lengths of tubing while the conveyor is at rest, and the various tools to perform flaring operations upon the lengths of tubing.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following de- I scription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearlyv shown.

In the drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 3'-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of. Figs. 4 and 6.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on the 1 line 6--6-oi Figs. 4, 5 and 8.

. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary end elevation looking inathe direction of the arrow 1 of'Figs. 5 and 8. Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 Figs. 4 and 6. I Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 45 or Fig. 4.-

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation on a smaller scale looking in the direction of arrow ID of Fig. 4.

\ Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the details of the stationary workholder shown on a smaller scale in Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the conveyor showing one of the conveyor workholders in section.

This section is on Figs. 13, 14, 15 tional views on an enlargedsca the line I2 l2 of Fig. 5.

and 16 are fragmentary secle showing, by

way of example, the flaring operation which may 5 be performed by a Conveyor machine of this character.

the conveyor comprises a I. Chain 20 passes around m and 23, and chain 2| around 2 is keyed dijournaled in bearings 21 and machine frame 85. Sprocket 26 is keyed to a sleeve 3| journaled ina bearing 5 32 which is carried by a bracket 83 which may be slid along the frame in a direction parallel to the shaft 26 whichmay extend lengthwise of the frame 30 and for the full length sleeve 3| the shaft way 34 provided by the shaft 26.

tion permits locating the chain 2i with the chain 20 but at different distances therefrom depending upon the length of the tubing to be operated upon. The sprocket 2 idle shaft 35 journaled in a beari thereof. The

surrounds and provides a Journal for go 26 and is drivingly connected with the shaft 26 by a key which slides in a groove or key This construcin parallelism 3 is fixed to an ng 36 provided by the frame 85. The sprocket 26 is fixed to an idle shaft 37 .lournaled the bracket 33.

The bracket 33 rails and ti and the machine in a bearing 38 fixed to provides the support of two frame 85 provides for the support of two rails 82 and t3, along which the lengths of tubing Tare slid by 3 the conveyor. 7 plurality of equi-distant pads 44 one or more pegs 85 for engaging a The conveyor chain 20 carries equidistant pads each providing a for receivinga length of tubing T. holder pad is provided with two lugs The conveyor chain 2i carries a each carrying tube length "1. a plurality of workholder Each work- Bi, see Figs.

1, 2, 4 and 12. Provided with aligned notches for receiving a tube T, it will be observed that the notched lugs 5i support a tube T lengthwise of the machine and in such manner that it will at the same time be engaged by a pad 44 which is in longitudinal a1 with. Since the two taneously and at the same speed pin 65 of the ignment therechains 20, 2| move simulas the tubes in 50 parallelism across the frame of the machine,-each tube T is held within a pair of notched lugs M by a clamping lever 12. Lever 60 is journaled on 9. carried by a pair of spaced ears shown best in Figs. 2 and pin 8| and is 82 provided by 53 the pad so integral with a block as which is attached by rivets 64 to the pad 58. The block 63 has a groove 65 which receives the tube T when it is located within the notched lugs 5 I. The

lever 68 is provided with a groove 66 which likewise receives the tube T when the lever 68 is in the position shown in Fig. 12. The lever 68 is held in this position by a spring 61 attached at one end to a pin 68 provided by block 63 and at the other end to a pin 69 provided by a lever 68. It

will be noted that the center line of the spring 61 is located as shown in Fig. 12 in such manner that the lever 68 will be urged in a clockwise direction around its pivot 6I thereby clamping the tube T between the block 63 and the lever 68 with yielding friction exerted by the spring 61. When it is desired to release the work the lever, as shown in Fig. 12, is moved counter-clockwise sufficientiy to cause the center line of the spring to be moved to-the left of the pin 6| whereby the lever will be held in non-clamping position. The levers marked 68a in Fig. 1 are in non-clamping position. These levers have been automatically thrown in thatposition as a result of their striking a horizontal bar 18 supported by the machine and located in the path of movement of the lever 68. The lever 68 having been moved in a nonclamping position indicated at 68a in Fig. 1, the released tube lengths T are free to drop by gravity from the conv''yor into a suitable container not shown. The tube lengths T are fed to the conveyor by an operator who receives the tubes from an inclined shelf 1 I a fragment of which is shown adjacent the left'end of Fig. l. The operator then places the tube lengths upon the conveyor and pushes each one toward the right as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4 until the end of the tube strikes a plate limit 12 shown on the upper side of Figs. 1 and 4. Then the operator moves the clamp lever 68 from its position shown in 6811 to that shown at 68 at the upper and left side of Fig. 1. The tube T is then ready to proceed through the machine and be operated upon by whatever tools the machine may be provided with.

Stationary workholder In addition to the moving workholder provided by the conveyor there are a plurality of stationary workholders equal in number to the number of flaring operations performed simultaneously by the machine. In the disclosed embodiment of the present invention there are four flaring tools. hence four stationary workholders, the lower clamping members of which are shown in the center part of Fig. 4 and the details of which are shown best in Figs. 5 and 11.

Each stationary workholder may be designated in its entirety by numeral. 88 and it comprises an upper and stationary bedplate 8| secured by one or more screws 82 to an upper frame 83 secured by bolts 84 to. the lower frame 85 which in turn rests upon the main frame 38. The upper bed plate 8| carries an upper clamping jaw 86 and is provided with an apertured ear 81 carrying a pilot pin 88 which slides through an aligned apertured hole in a lug 89 provided by the lower bed plate 98. "The bed plate 98 carries a lower clamp 9I.' The two clamping jaws 86 and 9I are provided with spring pressed ejector pins 92 intended to dislodge the work from contact with the clamping jaws 86 and 9I when they are separated.

The clamping jaw bed plate 98 is swivelly supported by a piston rod 93 attached at its lower end to a piston 94 which slides in a cylinder 95 inserted in a suitable bore 96 provided by the frame 85. The bore 96 is closed at its upper end by a packing gland 81 through which the piston rod 93 passes and at its lower end by a plate 98 having a passage 99 communicating with a source of fluid pressure to be described later. A spring I88 urges the piston 94 downwardly to separate the clamping jaws 86 and 9| as shown in Fig. 5. Pressure is admitted to the lower end of cylinder 95 through the pass 99 raising the piston 94 against the compression of spring I88 to close the clamping jaws on the tube-T preparatory to performing upon it.

In order to prevent back pressure due to the accumulation of pressure fluid escaping around the piston 94 into the upper part of cylinder 95, cooperating passages I81 and I88 are provided. Passage I81 opens into the cylinder at one end thereof and cooperates with the passage I88 at the other end thereof. A plug I86 at the other end of passage I88 is utilized to seal the passages from the atmosphere. Removal of plug I86 during the upward movement of piston 94 will permit ejection of the trapped fluid through the passages I81 and I88, whereupon the plug I86 may be replaced and normal operation may be resumed.

In order to be sure that the work will not cling to the clamping jaws 86 01' 9I after they 'are separated, there is provided adjacent each stationary workholder 88 an additional ejecting means in the form'of aspring pressed plunger I8I slidably secured to the upper frame 83. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 one of the plungers I8I, provided at its lower end with a bifurcated plate I83 carries a roller I84 adapted to bear upon the tube T and to urge the same against a plate I85 attached to the rail 43 as shown in Fig. 2. The parts I84 and I85 are so located that, when the tube T is engaged by them, the tube T will be held substantially midway between the clamping jaws 86 and 9| when they are separated as shown in Fig. 2.

As shown in Fig. 5 the rails 42 and 43 are secured to a metal strip II8 which is attached by screws III to a shelf II2 which is attached by screws II3 to the left-hand end of the lower frame 85. In this way the conveyor chain 28 is supported in a desired position above the machine frame 38.

Flare forming tools by four different tools shown on an enlarged scale in Figs. 13, 14, 15, 16. Fig. 13 shows the tube T clamped between the jaws 86 and 9| and the effect of its being operated upon by tool I28 which causes the end of the tube T to be deformed to provide a thickened .annular flange F. In Fig. 14 the flange F is being trimmed oil internally by a rotary tool I21; and in Fig. 15 the flange is being trimmed externally by a rotary tool I22. In Fig. 16 the flange F is being coined into final shape by a tool I23. All of these tools move axially and tools I2I and I22 rotatively.

I position by a stop screw I35. The toggle links are connected with a rod I36 which is connected with a crank pin I31 supported by crank discs I38 shown also in Fig. 6. The discs I38 are integral with a crank shaft I39 supported in bearings 15 I40, I M, I42 and I43 provided by the frame 85 as shown in Fig. 6. Obviously, upward movement of the rod I36 as shown in Fig. 6 causes the toggle links I3-I and I32 to approach a horizontal position thereby causing the bar I30 to move toward the work. Likewise downward movement of-the rod I36 as'shown in Fig. causes the block I to be retracted from the work. Tool I23 is moved toward and away from the work in an mechanism.

Referring to Figs. 4, 6 and 8, each of the rotary tools I2I or I22 is carried by a shaft I45 journaled in a bearing block I 48 which is supported for horizontal sliding movement between the frame 85 and the frame 83 as shown in Figs. 6 and .8. Each bearing block I48 is held in retracted position by spring I41 which bears at one end against frame 83 and the other against the lug I48 attached to the block I46. The spring I41 is retained by the cover plate H9. The block I48 provided on its under side by spaced lugs identical I50 which receive between them a roller I5I carried-by a lever I52 pivoted at I53 ona bracket I54 attached to the frame 85. The lower end of lever I52 carries a roller I55 which engages a cam I56 which is integral with the shaft I39 during rotation of the cam I56 as indicated by I v the arrow I51 the slide bar I46 is caused to move toward the left carrying with it its tool I2I or I22, against the work. Each tool holding shaft I45 carries a pulley I58 connected by suitable belt shown in Fig. 4 with an electric motor I58, see. Fig. 1, which is supported upon the upper frame 83.

Operating mechanism .As shown in Figs. 1 and 10 the machine frame roller I12 on the lower end of the valve rod I13.

Rod I13 extends through a packing gland I14 and into a valve chamber I15 provided interiorly of a valve casting I16, which is secured to frame 85 and 83. In a housing I16 is provided ports I11 and I18 and the rod I13 with annular flanges I19 and I80 which control these ports. There is i a passage I8I which extends through the rod so as to provide communication in the chamber I15 V between the space above the flange I80 and the space. below the flange I19. The port I18 is connected by a pipe I82 represented in part by the dot-dashline I82a. Pipe I82 is connected with all four of the passages 89 which communicates with the cylinders 95 for elevating the clamping jaws 9|. The port I11 is connected by a pipe I83 with a fluid reservoir (not shown) not under pressure with whichthe inlet of the fluid pressure pump is connected. This pump is not shown but is connected by a pipe I84 shown in Figs. 1

- and 10 with a port I85 which is about midway between the ports I11 and I18 in the position of valve rod I13 shownin FigflO. Port I85 is cut' off and ports I11 and I18 are connected hence pressure .fluid is discharged from the cylinders 95thereby permitting the springs I00 to move the piston 84 do,wnwardly.so as to separate the stationary workholder clamping jaws. vWhen roller I12 engages the high part of the. cam "I, the 'port I85 will be connected with the port I18 and the port I18 disconnected from the port I11 whereupon pressure fluid is delivered through pipe I82 through the cylinders 95 in order to elevate the clamping Jaws. I8I and clamp the tubes T in the stationary workholder.

Referring again to Figs. 6, 7 and 10 the shaft I88 drives a. beveled gear I meshing with a beveled gear I9I carried by a shaft I82 journaled in brackets I83 and I94 mounted on the rear end of the frame 86. Shaft I82 drives a worm I88 meshing with a worm gear I96 which rotates a Geneva driving arm I91 carrying a roller I83 which cooperates with a Geneva gear driven wheel I88 fixed to the shaft 26. The gear ratio is such that shafts I86 and I92 are driven at the same speed and worm gears I10 and I88 are driven at the same speed therefore shaft I39 and itsvarious cranks and earns will rotate once during every rotation of the Geneva driving .arm I81. For every rotation of arm I81 shaft 26 will be rotated V revolution which is sufficient to cause the conveyor chain to move linearly the distance between .the various tools I20 and I2I etc. and the various stationary workholders 80 shown in Fig. 4.

The various functions of the mechanism are so timed that, during the time when the workholder clamping jaws are separated which coincides with the time the various tools are retracted from the work, the conveyor is being moved -a distance equal to the spacing between the tools. After the conveyor has stopped moving the oil pressure control valve is actuated by the cam I1I so as to connect the cylinders with the source of fluid pressure in order to cause the workpieces T to be clamped firmly into position and into alignment with the various tools which operate upon them. Then after the tubes I have been clamped in the-stationary workholder the tools advance simultaneously upon the ends of the tubes T and operations are performed thereon as shown in Figs.l3 to 16 inclusive. Then the tools are retracted, pressure is released from the cylinders 95 and the workpieces are unclamped from the stationary workholder. Then the conveyor chains 20'and 2I move the workpieces across the machine again the distance equal to tools. The machine being full of work, each time the conveyor moves, a new workpiece is fed to the first tool. namely tool I20 and a tube upon which the flaring is completed is fed away from the last tool I28 and is discharged from the machine following the automatic opening of a conveyor workholder clamping lever 60 as shown at 80a in Fig. 1.

While the tools shown in Figs. 13 to 16 inclusive, have been disclosed herein in order to show a typical series of tools which may be used in the present machine, it is to be understood that this machine isnot limited to these particular tools. but that other tools may be substituted which are found more suitable to produce a particular type of flare on the end of the tube.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed. constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows: I

1. Apparatus for flaring tubing comprising, in combination, an endless chain conveyor carrying a plurality of workholders eachfor receivinga length of tubing, meansfor yieldingly holding the length of tubing on the conveyor work-holder clamping a length of tubing adjacent its end to be flared, means for aligning the lengths of tubing with a plurality of tools for performing operations upon a plurality of lengths of tubing simultaneously, and an operating mechanism for causing the conveyor to move intermittently and for causing thestationary workholders to clamp lengths of tubing while the conveyor is at rest, the various tools to perform flaringroperations upon the lengths of tubing and means for releasing the hold of the yielding means after the flaring operations have been completed to :allow the tubes to fall by gravity fromthelconveyor.

2. An apparatus fESFfla-ring tubing comprising,

in combination, a conveyor carrying a plurality of workholders each for receiving a length of tubing, means carried by the work-holders and manually operated for clamping a tube in position; a plurality of stationary work-holders each for clamping a length of tubing adjacent its end to be flared, a plurality of tools for performing operations upon a plurality of lengths of tubing simultaneously, operating mechanism for cans-- ing the conveyor to move at intervals and for causing the stationary work-holders to clamp'thelengths of tubing in alignment with the tools while the conveyor is at rest, and the various tools to perform the flaring operations upon the length of tubing, means for freeing the lengths of tubing from the jaws of the stationary work-holders as the jaws separate and means for automatically releasing the manually operated clamping means of a conveyor work-holder after the flaring operations have been completed to permit the discharge of the tube from the work-holder.

3. An apparatus for flaring tubing comprising, in combination, a conveyor carrying a plurality of work-holders each for receiving a length of' tubing, means carried by the work-holders and manually operated for clamping a tube in position; a plurality of stationary work-holders each for clamping a length of tubing adjacent its end to be flared, a plurality of tools for performing operations upon a plurality of lengths of tubing simultaneously, operating mechamsm for causing the conveyor to move at intervals and for causing the stationary work-holders to clamp the lengths of tubing in alignment with the tools while the conveyor is at rest, and the various tools to perform the flaring operations upon the length of' tubing, means for dislodging the tubes from contact with the stationary work-holders upon separation thereof; and means for automatically tripping the manually operated clamping means of a conveyor work-holder after the flaring operations have been completed to permit the tubing to drop bylgravity from the conveyor work-holder.

4. An apparatus for flaring tubing comprising, in 'combination, a conveyor carrying a plurality of work-holders each for receiving a length of tubing, a spring-urged lever carried by the work holders and manually operated for clamping a tube in position, a plurality of stationary workholders comprising an upper and a lower law for clamping a length of tubing adjacent its end to be flared, a plurality of tools for performing operations upon a plurality of lengths of tubing simultaneously, operating mechanism for moving'the conveyor intermittently and for moving one of the jaws to clamp the lengths of tubing while the conveyor is at rest and the various tools to perform flaring operations upon the lengths of tubing, and means located in the path of the spring-urged levers to automatically move a lever in a non-clamping position after the flar- 2,1'/e,1e s

ing operations have been complete to permit the discharge of a tube from the work-holder.

5. An apparatus for flaring tubing comprising, in combination, a conveyor carrying a plurality of work-holders each for receiving a length of tubing, means carried by the work-holders and manually operated for clamping a tube in position, a plurality of upper and lower gripping members, a plurality of tools for performing operations upon a plurality of lengths of tubing simultaneously, operating mechanism for causing the conveyor'tlfmoveintermittently and causing the lower gripping member to elevate the lengths of tubing to the upper gripping members to clamp the tubes in alignment with tools whfle the conveyor is at rest, and the various tools to perform flaring operations upon the lengths of tubing, and means for automatically releasing the tube clamping means of a conveyorv work-holder after the flaring operations have been completed.

6. An apparatus for flaring tubing comprising, in combination, an endless chain conveyor; workholders carried by the conveyor for receiving a tube each having means for clamping the tube in position, a plurality of stationary work-holders comprising normally separated clamping members, means for positioning a tube between the clamping members, a plurality of tools for performing operations upon a plurality of lengths of tubing simultaneously, operating mechanism for causing the conveyor to move intermittently and for causing the clamping members to clamp the lengths of tubing in alignment with the various tools which operate upon them while the means adapted to be engaged by the clamping means of a conveyor work-holder to cause a tripping of the clamping means to permit .the discharge of the tube from the work-holder;

7. An appaartus for flaring tubes, comprising a conveyor adapted to support a plurality of tubes to be flared, a plurality of different tools located in different positions for performing separate operations upon the tubes simultaneously means for moving the conveyor step-by-step to bring each of the tubes into position to be operated on by one of the tools, means for clamping the tubes simultaneously in axial alignment with the tools while the conveyor is at rest, and means for operating all the tools simultaneously while the tubes are clamped.

8. An apparatus for flaring tubes comprising an endless chain conveyor adapted to support a plurality of different lengths of tubes. a plurality of different tools including longitudinal reciprocating tools and longitudinal reciprocating rotating tools, means operating the conveyor step-by-step to bring each tube into position to be operated on by the tools successively, power means for operating the tools, pressure actuated means for clamping the tubes in a stationary position while the tools are operated.

9. An apparatus for flaring tubes comprising an endless conveyor, manually operated means for holding yieldingly tubes in position on the conveyor, a plurality of work-holders for clamping a tube adjacent its end to be flared, a plurality of diflerent tools in cooperativerelation with the work-holders, said tools including a deforming tool, an internal trimming tool, an external trimming tool and a coining tool, means for operating the conveyor step-by-steplto bring any tube thereon successively into position to be operated on by said tools and a plurality of eration thereof; and means I forming operations engaged by the position to be operated on by all of the-tools simultaneously, pressure actuated means for operating all of the work-holders into a clamping position simultaneously, means for operating all of the tools simultaneously and means for automatically releasing the clamping efl'ect of the manually operated means to permit the discharge oi the tube from the conveyor;

10. An apparatus for flaring tubing comprisan endless chain conveyor; work-holders carried by the conveyor for receiving a tube, each having means for clamping the tube in position; a plurality of stationthe tubes into ary work-holders comprising normally separated clamping members; a plurality of tools for per-- forming operations upon a plurality of lengths of tubing simultaneously; for causing the conveyor to move intermittently, and for causing the clamping members -to clamp. the length of tubing in alignment with the various tools which operate upon them while the conveyor is at rest, and for causing the various tools to perform operations upon the lengths of tubing; ejecting means carried by the stationary work-holders for dislodging the tubes from contact with the work-holders upon sepadapted ,to be engaged by the clamping means of a conveyor work-holder to release the clamping eflect thereof permitting the discharge of the tube from the work-holder.

ary work-holders comprising normally separated clamping members; a plurality of tools for per.-

upon a plurality of lengths of tubing simultaneously; operating mechanism for causing the conveyor to move intermittently, and for causing the clamping members to clamp the lengths of tubing in alignment with the various tools which operate upon them while the conveyor is at rest, and for causing the various tools to perform operations upon the lengths of tubing; ejecting means for dislodging the tubes from contact with one 01' the'work-holders upon separation thereof; and means adaptedto be clamping means of a conveyor operating mechanism lengths of tubing;

work-holder to cause a tripping oi the clamping means to permit the discharge of the tube from a plurality of tools for performing operations upon a plurality of lengths of tubing simultaneously; operating mechanism for moving the conveyor intermittently, and for moving one of the jaws to clamp the lengths of tubing while the conveyor is at rest and for causing the various tools to perform flaring operations upon the lengths of tubing; and means for moving the spring urged levers to a non-clamping position after the flaring operations have been complete to permit the discharge of a tube from the conveyor work-holder.

13. An apparatus for flaring tubing comprising, in combination; an endless chain conveyor; yieldable means carried by the conveyor for supporting various lengths of tubes in a spaced relation on the conveyor; a plurality of workholders comprising normally separated clamping members; a plurality of tools for performing operations upon a plurality of lengths of tubing simultaneously; operating mechanisms for causing the conveyor to move intermittently; pressure actuated means for causing the clamping members to hold firmly the lengths of tubing in alignment with the various tools, while the conveyor is at rest; power means for reciprocating the tools to perform operations, upon the ejecting means associated with the work-holders and operable for dislodging the tubes from contact with the clamping members as the clamping members separate; and means cooperating with the yieldable means on the conveyor to release the hold thereof after the flaring operations have been completed to permit the discharge of the tubes from the conveyor.

LORA E. POOLE. CHARLES A. NICHOLS. 

